Talarico Says He Had Flu, Dismisses Mental Hospital Rumors
Nick Sortor and Rhein Amacher released audio Sunday of a woman they say works at Ohio's Lindner Center of Hope. She appeared to say a James Talarico had just been discharged.
Sept. 30: Talarico said remotely that a Dallas urgent care diagnosed him with flu.
Talarico reappeared Friday at the Austin City Limits music festival.
The woman in the recording has not been identified or verified.
The Lindner Center says it does not confirm or deny who its patients are.
Why it matters: Talarico was off the campaign trail for about two weeks in a close Senate race. The campaign's explanation is now under public challenge from Republicans.
Campaign spokesman JT Ennis called the claim "a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory."
Trump said at a Tennessee rally, "I don't think it was the flu either."
The story so far
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Where they split: The dispute is whether an unverified phone recording and flight-tracking data outweigh the campaign's account that Talarico had the flu.
Right coverage, 24 sources: The right sees evidence that the campaign misled voters about Talarico's absence, though some outlets stress the claim remains unverified.